Our First Snow...

Well, we had our first snow of the winter season today. Just after church it started to snow and we were all so excited. We had lunch at friends of ours and then the boys were able to go out and sled and have a snow ball fight. They had a blast. Then we came home and they played with there friend next door. They love playing out in the snow, they would have been out there all night if they could have been. Gracie enjoyed eating the snow mostly and was jumping up in the air trying to catch the snowflakes in her mouth. We had a wonderful day enjoying the snow!!

"How are you?"

I put this question here because I know that many of you are wondering how we are doing, are deeply concerned for us, and have continually kept us in your prayers since Isaac's death. I started reading a new book today that was recommended to me by a sister in the Lord, called "Holding on to Hope" by Nancy Guthrie and she addresses this same question. After she lost her daughter, for the first year she answered this question by saying, "I'm deeply and profoundly sad." It is a question that has been frequently asked of both Joe and I over the last 6 weeks since we lost Isaac. Many times it is hard for us to discern the answer to the question. Most days I think we are both doing ok and we respond in like fashion, but on other days we aren't doing that well and I will admit that I have just put on the happy face and answered "I'm fine." when in reality I have been far from it. So, to answer the question, we are sad but more so we miss Isaac so much. We miss the chances to hold him longer, to even have brought him home from the hospital to his room where all of his things are, for him to be a part of our family with his brothers, and to take him to church with us were we worship as a family. I think as believers we sometimes think that our faith will help us hurt less(stated in the book by Mrs. Guthrie's husband)but I know that God has allowed Isaac's death to occur in our lives for us to see Him in a new way. God knows our sorrows and He understands it. I believe our hearts will heal over time through our reaching out to God and listening to Him when He answers our cries for help but until that appointed "time" we choose to cry when we need to and face our grief because the Lord has given us this task of greiving to do. Thank you all for praying for us and bearing our burden as Christ has called us all to do.

"The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." I Cor. 15:56 - 58

Bowling for Dollars....Well Not Really!!!

In September 2006 we joined a homeschool bowling league. Every Friday we go to
Woodbridge and they get to bowl three games and they are on teams with other homeschoolers their age. This has been a great time for them and they really enjoy it. They still have to use bumpers but they have slowly but surely improved their games and both Aaron and Christian broke 100 today. They were really excited about that. Here are some pictures of them and their teammates. Happy Bowling!!

Our First Visit to the Gravesite

Yesterday we went to Quantico National Cemetery to visit Isaac's gravesite for the first time. They set his headstone during this past week and we wanted to wait for that. The site is a beautiful place on top of a hill with wooded areas around it. It was a beautiful day yesterday but as you can see from the pictures that it was quite muddy since it had rained the day before and there is no grass as of yet. In the spring it will be quite pretty. We feel so priviledged that Isaac is buried with so many veterans of this great country. As a matter of fact, to the left of Isaac is a World War II Veteran. Thank you all for continuing to pray for us as we are healing. We also wanted to update you on Issac's roommate at Georgetown. The little girl is doing very well, she has had her repair surgery and was put in the step down NICU on Christmas day. I was able to visit her this past Tuesday and talk with her mom. It was a special visit for me in that her mom called me her "Auntie Lori" and that meant so much to me. The family is doing well and I would ask that you continue to pray for them as they are still going to be there for just a little bit longer. We hope and pray that have enjoyed the first week of this new year and God Bless You!